A blimp? A blimp!
I’ve got a more substantive post about Ron Paul waiting in the wings, but it’s a lot more fun to make fun of his supporters. So let’s make fun of the blimp again, shall we? Now that the entire planet stands on the cusp of near-religious awe in the presence of Ron Paul’s old-timey zeppelin, let’s take a closer look at the message this airborne revelation will carry. From RonPaulBlimp.com :
The Messages on the Ron Paul BlimpThe graphics/messages on the Ron Paul Blimp were carefully chosen by a team of people with diverse marketing backgrounds.
After employing what I’d guess is the marketing equivalent of trying to get a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to produce Shakespeare, they came up with this :
Now, if you’re like me, you’re looking at the blimp and scratching your head. With a team of people with diverse marketing backgrounds behind this, it’s understandable that the blimp’s message might go over your head. Luckily, the Ron Paul blimp folks are there to explain the message :
Who is Ron Paul?We chose the “Who is Ron Paul” message because the reality is that most people do not know who Ron Paul is. “Who is Ron Paul?” inspires action in the form of a question.
A question “inspires action”. If you’re looking for additional inspiration, here’s an extra credit question for you : Why the hell would Ron Paul’s supporters waste their money on a blimp?
Google Ron PaulGoogle is a verb in the dictionary. People know what this phrase means. It is commonly used in the main stream media. We chose the “Google Ron Paul” message because it is a call to action that people can do immediately; they cannot vote for a long time, and may forget about him by then. When they Google him, they will get a lot more info.
Ohhhhhhh….I get it. Google is a verb.
My favorite part of the blimp’s message is this :
No Election MessagesWe specifically left off any reference to an election, because most people do not care about politics. We want to bring them back into the electoral process, and messages like the ones chosen — distinctly different than the same old boring way of advertising candidates — will do that.
Clearly the best way to bring people back into the electoral process is to avoid mentioning politics altogether.
As an aside, if you’re inclined to support Ron Paul, please donate to the effort to get him a full page ad in High Times magazine. It’ll be hilarious.
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Different. Thanks for the briefing.
It seems that Paul’s increased attention is making some in the establishment uncomfortable. My small conribution.
Comment by GDAEman — December 12, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
Here is a photo of the actual blimp in the hangar with the artwork applied to one side:
http://libertariansrising.com/2007/12/12/photo-of-the-ron-paul-blimp-with-artwork/
Comment by Derrick Miller — December 12, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
| It seems that Paulâ��s increased attention is making some in the establishment uncomfortable. |Yes. Absolutely. It’s an anxious time for them. They’re about to piss themselves laughing.
Comment by me — December 13, 2007 @ 5:17 am
Is this Karen Hughes’ new gig?
Comment by Doobie — December 14, 2007 @ 1:58 am
I had a hard time trying to figure out if this whole blimp thing was satire. They’re for real?
Comment by Rudolph — December 14, 2007 @ 6:57 am
Heavens to Murgatroyds, I’ll have 1/2 of what they’re smoking – it’s gotta be primo! Unless they can put that baby directly in the path of Air Force One, that’s, um … one of the most enormous punchlines I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Sorry – I just can’t get that Captain Beefheart song out of my head … “Daughter don’t you dare, oh Mama who cares, it’s THE BLIMP! It’s THE BLIMP!”
Comment by jim — December 14, 2007 @ 10:00 am
Before you show your ignorance yet again, I suggest you look up the difference between Zeppelins, Dirigibles, and Blimps. Since you seem to know about as much about airships as you do about Ron Paul, it is painfully obvious that you don’t know what you are talking about.
However, if it makes you write about it, or someone talk about it, or gets shown during a football game … it has done its job.
Also, they are not asking people to VOTE FOR him, they are only asking them to check him out.
How terrible of them to ask people to inform themselves!
Your criticism of the blimp is pathetic, I don’t know why I am wasting my time by replying to you.
Comment by Dale Smith — December 14, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
I assumed he was making an Ayn Rand reference–i.e., “Who is John Galt?”
Comment by Christian C. — December 16, 2007 @ 9:19 am
Keeping up with Dr. Paul seems to be a sport around here,not much debate on his idea’s,but loads of smirky little jokes,most lacking thought,or political humor.As for the great blimp,it seems its flight around the country will be broadcast online,with jounalist and supporters on board reporting live.I find the great blimp rather clever because its physical appearance has a quirky,grassroots form,and function,combined with realtime audio video broadcast to the internet.the great blimp could stimulate more interest in Dr. Paul’s political platform,as it flys over the nation and thru cyber space.
Comment by pogo — December 17, 2007 @ 8:22 am
okay, so while I don’t like EVERYTHING about Ron Paul, I like that he has the balls to say the “C” word in public (that’s “Constitution”, pervo…), and wants to end the war. He also SEEMS to want to restore some of the goodwill the world used to have for us. His loonier dreams for the USA just simply wouldn’t happen if he were elected, because—NEWS FLASH! The President does NOT, repeat NOT have absolute power in the USA! He just wouldn’t get his IRS abolition, ending Medicare, etc.
The only other candidate who comes close to Paul’s rhetoric on the war, Constitution, and prudent governance is Kucinich. Who on the Left actually supports him in a real way? I’ve been a liberal for a LONG time, and I’m becoming increasingly disillusioned with the snarky, asinine spitwads that these armchair bloggers throw at ANY candidate who doesn’t get the “seal of approval” from either the DNC or the RNC….or, to be more accurate and inclusive, “Corporate America and their Hate Machine”.
Jesus, Greg. Can’t you maybe just TRY to promote a candidate you LIKE because of their stance, and TRY to make sure they win? If you like Kucinich, but won’t support him because he’s not already winning—you are NO better than LGF, or Drudge, or any other hack for the rightwing! the only difference is in the length of words you use, and your greater number of correctly spelled words……
you’re just reinforcing the shitty, shitty stereotypical pack mentality that’s totally effed up the democratic process in America.
so, crap or get off the pot, please. Instead of writing a long bitch session about Ron Paul, why don’t you spend your time writing a rant about who you WANT to be president?
Whatsamatter? Can’t take the idea of maybe being wrong?? if you can’t, you’ve become bedfellows with the likes of Rush Oxycontin Limbaugh, and Billoofa O’Falafel-Stroker.
Don’t mean to be harsh, but goddamn, man! grow a pair!
Comment by are you just a gadfly? — December 17, 2007 @ 8:10 pm
Oh, pogo. Pray tell, explain to the class in what way a blimp is a “grassroots” political device. Is it meant to invoke voters’ memories of the political airships of their youth? Or perhaps the airships they built with their parents out in their garages in the halcyon days of their youth? Also, as far as political humor goes, the line of thought that starts with voters not caring about politics and ends with them getting fired up about Ron Paul because of a blimp is a political joke that tells itself.
Dale, I would suggest you give some serious thought to basing your entire estimation of Greg’s intellect on whether or not he correctly categorizes his airships.
Comment by briantologist — December 18, 2007 @ 7:45 am
|Dr. Paul’s political platform,as it flys over the nation and thru cyber space.|
..then on, to oblivion…
RP believes in reverting to the gold standard.
He’s against reproductive choice.
He’s against health and safety act of 1970.
He’s against minimum wage.
Do I need to go on?
But if you’re interested (I assume you’re not, but others might be) have a look here: http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/11/ron-pauls-record-in-congress.html
Please, present your counter-arguments should you have any.
Comment by me — December 18, 2007 @ 11:32 am
The great blimp in question is a modern technological work of art, the grassroots supporters for Dr. Paul,concieved, and financed its creation,it is not a device,but rather an expression of those grassroots supporters.Exactly what these supporters meant, seems clear,it is a simple invitation to look at thier candadates platform.As for political humor,i’am certainly not an expert,but when it is used solely to dismiss the ideas of so many people,i find it a poor subtitute,for real conversation.
Comment by pogo — December 18, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
|As for political humor,i’am certainly not an expert,but when it is used solely to dismiss the ideas of so many people,i find it a poor subtitute,for real conversation.|
And a huge floating bag of hot air (or squeaky-voiced helium or whatever) is not a substitute for a comprehensive presentation of policies. Which RP cannot do, because he’d lose swathes of the minority support his minions have managed to inveigle.
Comment by me — December 19, 2007 @ 2:11 am
If you are having a problem understanding the policies that Dr.Paul advocates,you might follow the simple request written in very large letters on both sides of the great blimp.The ordinary people that you seek to label as swathes,or minions,may indeed represent a minority,attacks by those who deem themselves superior,just comes with that territory.My defence here is not only for Dr.Paul,and his supporters,it is for all political underdogs,which constant,systematic ridicule is designed to destroy,leaving the nation a list of “top tier” candates who are as idealogically
bankrupt,as they are cunning, and disingenuous .
Comment by pogo — December 19, 2007 @ 7:28 am
When did I deem myself superior? Or did you deem yourself inferior? Or did someone else tell you that?
Why would I bother googling Ron Paul? Are you saying he doesn’t stand for the policies outlined in that post?
A swathe is a region that extends a long distance, literally of land. I just meant lots of, really. It’s not derogatory. I’m an ordinary person, BTW. What makes you think otherwise?
But I distinguish the core of RP’s people, his minions, from the people they pull in. Do you think no such distinction exists? If so, you’ve been had, or you’re deluding yourself.
RP needs to be shown for what he is: at best a spoiler, at worst a dangerous, right-wing radical.
And frankly I don’t care what level of candidate they are, if they or their supporters do something stupid, they deserve to be mocked. It’s an essential part of healthy democracy.
Comment by me — December 19, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Nothing could be more creepy than constantly referring to the guy as “Dr. Paul.” Keep that up.
Comment by Cakesniffer — December 19, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
If you understand Congressman Paul,s policies, then indeed there is no need to inquire further.IT did appear to me, you have felt his supporters less than your intellectual equals,perhaps that was not your intent.I may,or maynot be iferior,that is not a determination a person can make objectively.Thanks for your definition of the word swathe, i admit its not a word i;ve ran across often, i looked it up and found a definition pretaining to a soft bandage, so i was puzzeled,however the meaning of the sentence was still clear.If you look closely,you will find that the core supporters come from all walks of American life,left and right.I have not decided which candidate i should vote for as of this date,my preferred choose would be a compromise platform fostered by a Kucinich/Paul ticket,it is rather poor of Congreesman Paul to refuse this possibility.However,even if one feels Congressman Paul is a “spoiler” or a “radical”,i still feel he has the right to run, and should be heard with an honest ear.As for mocking any and all candidates,i’m glad to hear you find them all fairgame, still you may find that political conversation can extend beyond a few laughs.I believe if you use your talent to explain your objections to Congressman Pauls policies,i would surely look forward to the political conversation such a radical act would foster..
Comment by pogo — December 20, 2007 @ 7:46 am
I think “Who is Ron Paul?” is definitely a reference to Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged and its tagline “Who is John Galt?” This slogan probably reawakened adolescent fantasies of a global “libertarian” revolt in the hearts of the true-believers that made this blimp a reality. Perhaps they should pay for airtime to show the film versions of The Fountainhead and We the Living on late night cable, with a toll-free number for people to call to join Ron Paul’s movement, telethon style. I want to watch a new infomercial, Paulites! Get to work!
Comment by Joe — December 20, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
Pogo, effing HONESTLY, you come off as a grammatically impaired lunatic. Please learn how to write and express yourself properly. Either that or join AA and get off the bottle.
Christ.
Comment by Damien — December 23, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
If you don’t like it…..don’t read it…..cheers!
Comment by pogo — January 7, 2008 @ 11:38 am